Overall, the user experience was positive. Most aspects of my site fit within the realm of web standards, so it functions without requiring new knowledge. Users immediately start to scroll and once they start, they don’t stop which creates a clear path to the content. The site is a bit slow, especially on non-Apple systems, and the interference from jumpy scrolling and slow loading interrupt the user’s experience.
I had no ratings below a 7. The closest I came was a 7 in the navigation row. Most of the comments were geared towards slightly improving my navigation. One comments asked that the navigation only collapse when “hide menu” is pressed. Another asked for color changes to show where the user has been and is going. A “back to top” button was also requested. The first two issues are just a result of my method for building this site. If I fold in some Javascript, and build the drop-down that way, this is easy to accomplish. A “back to top” button can be very easily added. I agree that the “back to top” button in necessary, but I do not agree that the navigation should exist in sight after clicking a given link. Aesthetically, it breaks the focal point of the text in any given section, and with the entire experience of a single-page site being centered around scrolling, clicking through with the navigation is redundant and lacks the finesse. It is meant for quick navigation or to easily jump back if necessary, not to navigate the entire site without scrolling. The users said they were guided, motivated, and engaged by the bright colors and images. I agree that they are the first thing to pull a user in, and then the content comes to the front.
